Slow Texas Drivers Can Get a Ticket for Doing This
Speeders and aggressive drivers might be the obvious ones to get traffic tickets, but officers are also looking for slow drivers and those folks will get a ticket in a certain situation. This is the one time that speeding up can actually help you avoid a citation!
Texas is a "keep right" state, meaning the left lane is for passing only, and slower drivers have to stay in the right lane. We've seen it a thousand times on I-20 and other favorite East Texas roads -- a slow driver is cruising along in the passing lane like he's in a NASCAR pace car -- but it's not supposed to be happening.
It's the law in Texas that the left lane is for passing only, and once that process is finished we've all got to get back over into the right lane.
The Texas Department of Transportation says if a driver continues to cruise along in the left lane without passing another car, it can lead to a $200 fine. TxDOT also says the left lane is not "the fast lane." It's a "passing lane" and we still have to drive the speed limit over there. Duly noted. So...everybody in the right lane until it's time to pass. That's how it should work in a neat and orderly Texas world.
If you get frustrated looking at the slow poke in the passing lane holding up the show, at least you can take comfort knowing the police are on your side and they can issue a ticket if they see it. No need to tailgate and take matters into your own hands, cuz that never works anyway.
With the weather warming up, we're getting into road trip season, and with this friendly "keep right" reminder we'll never be the ones breaking the road rules. Drive safely and crank up the radio. That always makes it better too.